In The Frumpy

Kitchen. There are usually good things to eat.  There are sometimes fresh things and always quick & easy!!

It's been one of those January's that seem to creep by, yet at the same time speed past & all of a sudden it's February 2!!

Well, not for lack of trying, but, I have been making some strides in eating better this past month. I threw down a challenge at the family Christmas this year....who can lose the highest % of body weight in the next 12 months. So, about 7 of us are "competing". I don't know how the others are doing...as the parental units have been in Florida all month with my youngest sister. There have been some ups and downs in "The Frumpy House".  All in all I have cut back on portions, have tried using more "natural", as in came from the ground or the animal....not from the factory, foods for cooking. Trying my hardest to go with foods that are as close to how nature intended them to be (do any of you know how hard it is to buy raw milk? how much money it will cost to buy grass fed meats? ai-yi-yi).

Well, just for the sake of writing a post for you all to read, I thought I'd share some of my latest creations....

Heading out the door to a baby shower, made a quick skillet meal for G.  2 small potatoes, fresh spinach, diced onions & garlic, sun dried tomatoes, salt/pepper, red pepper flakes. Sautee'd until brown then mixed in 2 eggs (beaten), heavy cream (beaten w/ eggs) and goat cheese. He said it was good...it must have been he ate it all!!

Breakfast: a small bowl of Greek yogurt, chopped walnuts & dried apples, cinnamon and honey mixed in! Yummy! Of course the coffee is a given for me @ breakfast...

On one of the girlies snow days Lauryn asked for spaghetti for lunch (no sauce just olive oil & butter). Easy enough...but tasty enough?!?! Not according to moi!! Taking some clues from a new blog I'd read, I added: garlic powder, lemon zest and lemon juice to the pasta. She wasn't happy but I convinced her since she likes lemons she'd like this (turns out mom's right!) To my bowl I added: red pepper flakes & herbed goat cheese.

The other night I knew I wanted a soup/stew and since I had made chili the week before I went for pintos. A large can of pinto beans (undrained since I wanted the starchy thickness), one can of diced tomatoes (drained since I didn't want the extra liquid), 5 garlic cloves chopped, 1/2 lg onion chopped, olive oil/ghee to sautee' them in. Added a bit of black pepper, crushed red pepper and cumin. Let that pot simmer for about 2 hours, stirring it whenever I walked by (which was a lot since I walk through the kitchen to get to the laundry....) I baked a cake pan of corn bread. When G got home from work, I fried a couple eggs. Layered a slice of corn bread, beans and topped it with an soft fried egg!! Yummy and so good for you!! The man of the "Frumpy House" also gave this dish a thumbs up!! I took some leftovers to work for lunch the next day and added fresh spinach to the beans while reheating them...super yummy!
Note: I did not add any cheese to this dish (goat or otherwise)!! hahaha

Are you a recipe reader or pantry picker when it comes to preparing meals? Believe me when I say that there is never enough time to fix the meals I dream of fixing...but there is usually time (& energy) @ the end of the day to fix something filling and good!  Bon appetite mes amis!

In addition to cooking I've been doing some enjoyable reading this past month....

This is an etsy.com purchase...1950's BHG New Cookbook! Even though I don't often follow recipes verbatim I do like reading them. Many, many ideas that are spring boards for a meal here or there!!

I couldn't recommend a book any higher than to write about it on my blog. This book has been almost a constant companion this past month...reading now and then when I get a chance. It was loaned from the library, but it is on my shopping list. Easy to read, easy to understand, and very insightful!!
Thanks to a fellow blogess, Miss Cedar for recommending it! (pssst if you want to see her and her sweet baby Lucy check out the Vintage Wife on my left sidebar or here) She's already planting her spring garden as she lives out in sunny California!

I take reading recommendations very seriously folks...if it has something to do with my life and making it healthier and easier...I would love ideas.  Leave 'em below in that nice little box labeled "comments"...I'll read 'em, promise I will!!